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LINCOLNTON, N.C. - The N.C. Department of Labor recognized area employers and employees at the agency’s annual safety awards banquet held at noon on Wednesday, April 10, in Lincolnton at the Lincoln Cultural Center.

“North Carolina’s employers and employees show us the true importance of a strong commitment to safety and health each and every day,” Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson said. “As this is my final year as Labor Commissioner and my last safety awards season, I want to reflect on the great opportunity it has been to meet and recognize the many people across our state that work so hard for these awards and most importantly continue to work to keep their workplaces safe and healthy. North Carolina’s injury and illness rate remains at an historic low. These businesses’ dedication to safety is the reason why North Carolina is one of the safest states in which to work and they deserve this distinguished recognition.”

The awards honor outstanding on-the-job safety achievements of each recipient during 2023. Recipients recognized are located in Lincolnton and surrounding counties. 

Paul Sullivan, Assistant Deputy Commissioner of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Division provided keynote remarks at the meeting. The event was hosted by the Lincolnton-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce.

The local recipients have met the stringent requirements necessary to receive a safety award. Recipients include:

Silver Awards

Criteria: Rate of days from work must be at least 50% below the industry average.

First Year

• Actega North America, Lincolnton Facility
• Aptar Group, Lincolnton Facility
• Atrium Health, Lincoln
• Lincoln County Government, Department of Social Services
• Lincoln County Government, Health Department
• Lincoln County Government, Parks and Recreation
• Lincoln County Government, Tax Department
• Punker LLC

Gold Awards

Criteria: Rate of days away from work, job transfer or restriction must be at least 50% below the industry average.

First Year

• Atrium Health Urgent Care, Lincolnton
• Lincoln County Government, Jail
• Lincoln County Government, Maintenance
• Lincoln County Government, Library
• Trick 1 Customs Inc.

Second Consecutive Year

• City of Lincolnton, Administrative Offices
• City of Lincolnton, Parks and Recreation
• City of Lincolnton, Public Utilities
• Lincoln County Government, Public Works

Third Consecutive Year

• Actega North America, Twin Lakes Facility
• Lincoln County Government, Fire Marshal's Office

Fourth Consecutive Year

• City of Lincolnton, Fire Department
• Lincoln County Government, Transportation Lincoln County/TLC

Fifth Consecutive Year

• Lincoln County Government, E911 Communications Center

Sixth Consecutive Year

• Lincoln County Government, Register of Deeds Office

Eighth Consecutive Year

• Lincoln County Government, Board of Elections
• The M. Conley Co.

Ninth Consecutive Year

• Lincoln County Government, Finance

10th Consecutive Year

• Atrium Health Primary Care, West Lincoln Family Medicine

11th Consecutive Year

• Lincoln County Government, Cooperative Extension
• Lincoln County Government, Information Technology
• Lincoln County Government, Senior Services
• Lincoln County Government, Veterans Services

12th Consecutive Year

• Lincoln County Government, Emergency Management

13th Consecutive Year

• Lincoln County Government, County Manager’s Office
• Lincoln County Government, Human Resources
• Lincoln County Government, Soil and Water Conservation District

Under program rules, companies must have been free of fatal accidents at the site for which the award is given to be eligible. The gold award criteria are based on a DART rate that is at least 50% below the statewide rate for its industry. The rate includes cases of days away from work, restricted activity or job transfer. The silver award is based only on cases with days away from work. They are recorded when the worker misses at least one full day of work, not including the day of the injury. The applicant must attain an incidence rate for cases with days away from work that is at least 50% below the rate for its industry.

More information on the N.C. Department of Labor’s Safety Awards Program is available by calling 919-707-7855 or emailing Kiley Willard at [email protected].

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